British Punk Rocker Attends Phish Show, Promptly Regrets It

New York Post ^ | July 27, 2017 | Hardeep Phull

[nickcarraway]

Like most Brits in America, there are many things that I have never been able to wrap my head around: beef jerky, health insurance and, most of all, jam bands.

The tie-dyed subculture is huge in the US — so huge that Vermont legends Phish are currently in the midst of a 13-night run at Madison Square Garden (ending Aug. 6).

As an avowed punk-rock enthusiast, I like music to feel like a hard, fast punch to the face. So an evening with 18,000 hippies flailing around like demented jellyfish to endless guitar solos is my idea of hell.

[AlmaKing]

I wonder if there was any cannabis to be had there?

[nickcarraway]

He mentions there was enough to make his eyes water.

[Mr. Mojo]

Like most Brits in America, there are many things that I have never been able to wrap my head around: beef jerky, health insurance and, most of all, jam bands.

Wonder if this Brit feels the same way about the UK's Cream, the original power trio jam band? Probably so. ...if he's even heard of them.

[nickcarraway]

I don’t think they qualify. I just looked up there albums. Only two songs made it just over 5 minutes. Most of their songs were in the three to four minute range.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Wanker.

[Mase]

there are many things that I have never been able to wrap my head around: beef jerky, health insurance..

....endless guitar solos is my idea of hell.

My idea of hell is single payer/nationalized healthcare. This guy is living in hell he just isn't aware of it yet. Maybe when he gets older and actually needs healthcare.....

[plain talk]

The punk rocker may just not like Phish’s style. That’s cool- to each his own. Or he could be jealous that Trey Anastasio can actually play his instrument as opposed to just strumming three chords. It is usually the later. An interview with the Ramones revealed as much. They said they couldn’t play more complex rock and had to write punk music that they could play.

[Mr. Mojo]

Cream qualifies more than any other band in history. Check out their live albums. Plenty of extended jams. They invented them. ...at least in rock music.

[atc23]

Cream was a “jam” band? I think you’re thinking of someone else.

[Mariner]

I couldn’t agree with the author more.

[Mariner]

Phish and Cream exist in different universes.

[plain talk]

I am not much of a Phish fan. Just not my style. But I do find the guitar player interesting. He can play well and improvise. I also like the fact he still uses his home-made speaker cabinets he started with after all these years when he could have bought professional ones.

[Mr. Mojo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCHE2bxSJqI

[Cen-Tejas]

If this is true, I don’t see how it works for long.

[Mr. Mojo]

Agree. Cream was amazing, and Phish sucks.

[atc23]

Cream qualifies more than any other band in history The writer is talking about 30 minute, jazz infused, mid tempo snoozemuzak - like the Grateful Dead live with Bob Weir all toked out on mary jane - you wake up with drool running down your chin and the janitor telling you to go home "show's done been over for 3 hours" . . . .

[Captain Peter Blood]

I recently picked up a real gem, Delaney, Bonnie & Friends on tour with Eric Clapton in 1969. It is fantastic stuff. Wonder of he would hate that. Punk Rock, for me, sucks. Guy is limiting himself. Probably would have hated the Allman Brothers, the original Jam Band.

[Mr. Mojo]

The writer is talking about 30 minute, jazz infused, mid tempo snoozemuzak

On that score, Cream certainly doesn't qualify.

[dfwgator]

Tell Ginger Baker that Cream was a jam band, and he’d kick your ass.